The Yankees signed Bill Hall to a minor league deal Tuesday and he was quite excited about it. It’s a minor league deal, so let’s remember that there is absolutely no risk involved here. If he doesn’t perform well enough in Spring Training, he can be cut with no repercussions. Let’s pretend for a second, though, that he plays well enough to make the team out of camp and goes north with the Bombers. Where could he fit in?
Despite not hitting very well against LHP in the last few years (54, 77, 77 wRC+ vs LHP from 2009-11), I’m sure he’ll get chances against lefties. But where? Hall played mostly at second last year and that’s obviously not going to happen. Per UZR and DRS, SS and 3B are the only places where he’s not a defensive liability, but he’s not going to play short and didn’t play any 3B last year. In 2011, he only logged four innings away from 2B. He’s going to be rusty at just about any position, but he can at least take up space somewhere. My first thought would be that against lefties, he could play third while Alex Rodriguez DHs and Andruw Jones mans left field. I considered Hall in left and Jones at DH, but that doesn’t make much sense; Hall isn’t a good left fielder and Jones is.
The more I think about it, the less I think Bill Hall is actually going to make this team. While he’s certainly not useless, I’m not sure how long he’d stick around. I’m assuming he’ll end up in the Angel Berroa circa 2009 role: he’ll stick around for a little bit, then get cut before you know it. So, welcome aboard, Bill; good luck in Spring Training.
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9 Responses to Bill Hall’s potential roster spot
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TIQ IQ
If he makes the team, Girardi must play him on Mother’s day.
Hopefully he doesn’t make the team at all. I believe Nunez has a future with this team. Maybe as a starter, maybe not. But if Nunez becomes a super sub with the ability to play ss, 2nd, 3rd, and even down the line learns outfield, he would have value. The best way to have a guy develop is to give him consistent playing time. Bill Hall simply isn’t good enough to be taking any time away from a developing young player like Nunez. I could understand Chavez more, because he can still play above average defense at 3rd, but not Hall. If there is such a concern over letting Nunez play 3rd, sign Chavez to a minor league deal also and let him and Hall battle it out in spring training to be ARod’s caddy this year.
I don’t think Chavez is going to sign a minor league deal. From all the rumor, granted that’s all it is, he wants to sign with the Yankees but it doesn’t seem like he’s going to do it for a sub million dollar minor league deal. He did it last year to prove he could play to the Yankees, this time I think he wants a 1-2 million dollar guaranteed deal. Otherwise he would already be signed, since both sides have interest in his return.
True. But he did get hurt again, and hit a pretty empty .263 and faded pretty hard when he returned from injury. I don’t think he warrants more than a minor league deal.
I agree and it would certainly be preferred for him to come in on a minor league deal, but if he was willing to do that I think he would’ve already done so. We’ve signed Branyan and Hall in just the last two days, I would think he would’ve gotten one of those deals.
Both Chavez and Ibanez are probably going to warrant major league deals, though Ibanez is more entitled to one. 1-2 million a piece with incentives should get it done. I honestly don’t see why we can’t just go ahead with that, but Hal wants to at least seem more conservative than the old man.
If Chavez will only come back on a 1 year 1-2million dollar deal then I agree Ibanez would be the wiser option even though I harbor some strong dislike for Ibanez for reasons I don’t know.
Nunez has a big role then as the backup for 3 infield positions, and I am more okay with that then most other fans. He might develop into a super utility guy or more with consistent playing time. He already has shown the ability to swipe a bag and has some ability with the bat.
I actually want both on similar deals. Ibanez to be the DH and Chavez to be first off the bench to play 3B. Nunez can get his time at SS, 2B, and 5th outfielder. He’s also insurance for when Chavez eventually gets hurt, but I like Eric’s defense at 3B to start the year.
I really don’t see Chavez and Ibanez playing similar roles. Hopefully Ibanez never touches the field, Chavez provides much more value when he is playing 3B/1B than DH’ing.
In a perfect world Chavez comes in on a minor league deal and Ibanez on a 1yr 1-2million dollar deal. I think having a guy who can play above average defense at 3rd is sort of important given the fact that ARod is going to be getting regular days at DH. But if the Yankees are saying they only have 2 million left and have to chose then I would prefer Ibanez.
In a perfect world Burnett gets traded and frees up 4 million dollars. Then both come in on major league deals and Garcia and Hughes battle for the 5th spot. Who knows if that happens though.